The City's storm water discharges must comply with requirements of the federal Clean Water Act. The state of California administers these requirements through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit process. The City's blueprint for permit compliance is State Water Resources Control Board (Board) Water Quality Order 2013-0001-DWQ, Waste Discharge Requirements for Storm Water Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), also known as the General Permit. Each year, the City must report to the Board its progress in implementing the requirements of the General Permit.